Tape applicator



Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES Pram OFFICE TAPE APPLICATOB William Paul Zabel, Jr., Cleveland Heights, ()hio Application September 13,1949, Serial No. 115,377

This invention relates to improvements in tape applicators, and has to do particularly with a device for applying Scotch tape or the like to surfaces of various kinds.

One of the objects of the inventon is the provision of an applicator in the use of which it shall not be necessary for the operator to touch the sticky side of the tape.

Another object is the provision of an applicator which shall enable the operator to press the tape firmly against the surface to which it is to be appled while it is being unwound from the supply spool.

Another object is the provision of tape severing means on the applicator adapted to be brought into operative position when the required length of tape has been drawn from the spool.

Still another object is the provision of an applicator having parts which may be assembled upon either s'de of a frame plate to render the device convenient for use by left-handed persons as well as by right-handed persons.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my applicator assembled for operation by a right-handed person.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective v'ew illustrating the first step in applying a length of tape by the use of the applicator.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the procedure of pressin a length of tape against a surface while the tape is being unwound from the supply spool, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental perspectve views of successive steps in the severing of the applied tape from the supply on the applicator.

Referring to the drawing I have shown at I!) a frame plate which forms the body of the device. This plate may have a thickness of the order of one-half inch and is made preferably of a light weight material such as aluminum or plastic. The exact shape of this plate is not important, except that at the rear end it should have a circular periphery somewhat larger than the diameter of a full spool l l of tape. Its forward end may be of considerably diminished depth, as indicated in the drawing.

Plate H3 is drilled and tapped as indicated at 9 to take the threaded portion of a stud l2, by means of which the spool H is mounted on the plate. A pair of dished washers i3 and I4 having 2 Claims. (Cl. 216-33) inder.

central perforations to fit the shank of stud I2 and disposed on opposite sides of the spool, form rotatable bearings for the spool and the washer it of metal is mounted in the openin I5, being held in place by a machine screw H which extends down through an inclined bore ill in plate l0 and is threaded into a tapped hole H3 in the cyl- The head of the screw ii bears against a shoulder in plate formed by counterboring the hole 18. Cylinder it is thus held against movement in all directions.

Mounted in or formed integral with cylinder I6 there is a metal peg 29 which projects laterally ,On its lower side peg 20 has a smooth rounded surface 2 i. It also has two opposed cutting edges 22 and 23 which are disposed opposite each other. The assembly of parts illustrated in the drawing brings the cutting edge 22 on the upper side of peg 23.

Operation. The procedure to be followed in using my applicator to apply a length of tape to a given surface is illustrated in the drawing in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. At the end of any given use of the applicator a strip of tape 25 will extend from the spool ll over the top of peg 20 to the cutting edge 22. The forward edge of the tape will adhere lightly to the peg so as to be kept in place. The operator holds the plate ill in his right hand and places it in position to dispose peg 20 over the point at which he desires to begin the application of tape. With a finger of his left hand he then presses down on the upper surface of the tape directly behind peg 2G to pull the forward ed e of the tape off the peg and press it down against the paper or other surface to which the tape is to be applied. With the forward edge of the tape thus adhering to such surface, the smooth rounded surface 2! of the peg is caused to press against the tape, the forward edge of which may still be held by a finger of the operators left hand. With his right hand the operator then pulls the plate Ill rearwardly, at the same time pressing its forward end downwardly so as to exert pressure through the rounded surface 2| against the upper surface of the tape as the latter unwinds from the spool l i. In this manner the tape is pressed down firmly and evenly. When the desred length of tape has thus been fed from the spool and applied the operator swings the plate II] to one side, as indicated in Fig. 5, to withdraw the peg 20 from its position above the tape, after which with a finger pressing downwardly on the tape he pushes the peg under the tape directly behind the applied portion, as indicated in Fig. 6. The cutting edge 22 will thus be brought into engagement with the tape, enabling the operator by a slight inward twisting and lifting motion of the plate ill to cut the applied length from the supply. The applicator will then be in the condition shown in Fig. 2, ready for the next application.

It will be evident therefore that by the proper use of the device the correct length of tape for the job in hand, and no more than that correct length, will be withdrawn from the spool. Also this correct length of tape will be applied quickly, firmly and evenly, and the operators fingers will not come in contact at any time with the sticky side of the tape.

One of the important features of my invention is the design and construction of the parts in such a way that they may be assembled for use either by a right-handed person, as illustrated in the drawings, or by a left-handed person. If the applicator is to be used by a left-handed person, he removes the stud I2 and the screw 11. He then withdraws the cylinder l6, turns it around and inserts it from the opposite side of the plate [0, after which the screw I1 is replaced. Next he places the spool I I on the opposite side of plate In and mounts it in that position by means of stud l2. While it would be possible for a lefthanded person to employ the applicator as as sembled for a right-handed person, it is much more convenient and efiicient to reassemble it as above explained, for then the spool H and the peg 20 will be on the side of plate In which is toward the operator, and the plate l0 will not interfere with his vision.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a tape applicator, a frame plate, a stud projecting laterally from said plate near one end thereof for rotatably supporting a supply spool of tape, a peg fixed in and projecting laterally from the same side of said frame plate near the opposite end thereof, said peg having a smooth lower surface adapted to bear against the upper surface of a length of tape being unwound from said roll and apply it to a receiving surface, and said peg havin a cutting edge along its upper side for severing the tape after the frame plate has been manipulated to withdraw the peg laterally from above the tape and to insert it beneath the tape, said frame plate being provided with means for receiving and mounting said stud and said peg to project from either side of said frame plate, whereby the applicator may be assembled for use either by a right-handed or a left-handed person.

2. A tape applicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said peg in addition to said smooth surface has two opposed cutting edges, one of which is disposed in operative position when the peg is assembled upon one side of said frame plate and the other edge of which is disposed in operative position when the peg is assembled upon the other side of said frame plate.

WILLIAM PAUL ZABEL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,016,527 Voigt Oct. 8, 1935 2,324,204 Fischer July 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 806,796 France Oct. 20, 1936 370,671 Italy Apr. 26, 1939 

